Covering complaints about businesses

Donovan, Derek

Donovan, Derek

In a typical week, several readers will contact me to request The Star write about a complaint they have against a business. Today, one man told me a regional tire dealer used a bait-and-switch tactic on him.

I’m sure these consumers are often telling me their stories honestly, and their beefs are legitimate. But I’m sure the accused businesses will also often have a compelling counter.

The journalistic problem here is that there’s almost always a he said/she said, and ultimately there isn’t a huge impact on the greater public interest in individual cases.

That doesn’t mean there’s never any news here, and I often do pass these things along to the newsroom for consideration. In fact, I did suggest that editors look at another potentially interesting example I heard today — one that affects hundreds of people.

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If you’re reading these words, you aren’t the gullible kind. Those who look to journalism institutions that try to be fair are the most thoughtful and civic-minded people I know. The Star doesn’t always get it right. But it honestly tries.